Page 18 of Say it Ain’t So

His smirk fell into something softer, though no less aggravating. He took my hand in both of his and prodded at my ring. “Been wanting to buy you something like this since you jumped off the Strat after me. When you were changing back at that boutique today, I snuck out.”

A gasp snuck from my throat. “What?”

“While the ladies were ringing up all your pretty clothes, I had them pack up this dress and shoes and send it here. Then I ran over to the jewelry store next door and picked this out.”

“Rylan.” More tears sprang from my eyes, but he kissed me before I could wipe them away.

“I want you, Joss. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. No adventure has ever made me feel the way you do, and I promise I will do everything I can to give you the life you were meant to have.”

With my hands clenched in his shirt, I fell apart in his arms. His warmth, his kindness, the love I could feel emanating from his very being, stitched my heart together into a patchwork that mirrored his.

After I pulled myself together, after I’d dressed in the beautiful dress he bought me and stood at the foot of the chapel aisle, I felt my heart straining for him where he stood near the front. He still wore the tight jeans that hugged his thighs and ass, but he’d changed into a purple button up that matched the colors in my dress. Everything in me told me to run his way, to jump into his arms, to stay there for the rest of my life.

With the biggest smile on my face, I walked up the aisle and took his hand. And I vowed to love him and cherish him the way he cherished me.

We were happy.

We were in love.

Just me and the man of my dreams.

7

RYLAN

From the moment the officiant said the words “husband and wife,” I couldn’t keep my hands off Joss. Not that it was easy before that.

I’m married.

That thought ran rampant in my head, repeating as I helped her into the car I called to take us back to the hotel. As we ran inside, and she gave a little pout when she saw the gift shop was closed. As that pout turned to a glorious smile when I told her I’d already had two dozen chocolate covered strawberries delivered to our room.

And as the elevator doors closed us in and Joss nestled her fingers into my hair and pulled my mouth to hers, that thought was replaced with a new one: This woman is my wife.

This perfect, wonderful, gorgeous woman was all mine. All her tears. All her smiles. She was mine for the rest of our lives.

She squealed as I swept her off her feet, but she didn’t stop kissing me as I carried her down the hall. When I shifted her weight to open the door, she wrapped her legs around my waist and all thoughts went quiet but one.

Mine.

“Fuck, Joss!” The door slammed open, and I stumbled in, stopping only when her back hit the wall. Her hands were everywhere—in my hair, tearing open the buttons on my shirt, tugging at the waistband of my pants—and her body was rubbing up against mine. Those silky, purple panties were doing nothing to keep her wetness from soaking through my jeans to my dick.

“I want you so bad.” Her love-drunk words hit me below the belt, and it took all my willpower to edge back and shake my head.

“Not gonna fuck you against the wall, gorgeous.”

Pure confusion colored her face, and she blinked her heavy-lidded eyes. “What?”

Scooping her off the wall, I held on tight and turned toward the bedroom. “You’re my wife.” My heart swelled at the words. “I’m going to take your clothes off piece by piece, then devour every inch of you until you’re begging me for my cock. Then, and only then, will we make love. Then I’ll show you exactly how a gorgeous woman like you should be treated.”

“What if I beg for your cock now?” Joss’s mouth twisted into a crooked grin.

I lifted a brow, then laughed as she let out a scream when I threw her on the bed. She bounced once and by the time she’d settled, I had already crawled up and was hovering over her.

“Did I tell you how perfect you are, baby?”

Her cheeks flushed in the dim light coming through the windows, and her response was just a whisper. “Maybe.”

“Nah.” I caught her chin between my thumb and finger, directing her attention back to me. “I did. And you are. You are the most perfect woman in the world for me.”